Carotenoids. Food Sources, Production and Health Benefits (Nutrition & Diet Research Progress Series)

Description

Carotenoids are the most widespread pigments in nature. One or more carotenoids in combination give rise to colours ranging from yellow to red in birds, fishes, crustaceans, micro-organisms, fruits and plants, including the dark green ones. There are over 600 known carotenoids and they are divided into two classes: xanthophylls, which contain oxygen, and carotenes, which are purely hydrocarbons and contain no oxygen. Carotenoids have many health benefits including antioxidant properties, free-radical scavengers, decreasing the risk of cardiovascular disease, anti-inflammatory properties, osteoporosis prevention and other diseases. The 15 chapters in this book have been written to outline recent topical research.

Table of Contents

Preface; Carotenoids as Bioactive Compounds; Food Sources: Production & Health Benefits of Carotenoids; Carotenoids with ?-End Group; Development of a Method to Induce ROS Resistant High-Yielding Mutant Lines of Sugar Cane, Saccharum officinarum cv NiF8 & NiTn18; Molecular Base for Carotenoids Antioxidant Activity in Model & Biological Systems: The Health-Related Effects; Carotenoids in Herbal Medicines; Microalgae: A Valuable Source of Natural Carotenoids with Potential Health Benefits; Sodium Taurocholate Optimum Amount of Blood Parrots on; Astaxanthin Availability; Carotenoid-Based Ornaments as Signals of Health Status in Birds: Evidences from Two Galliform Species, the Red-Legged Partridge (Alectoris rufa) & the Red Grouse (Lagopus lagopus scoticus); Dietary Carotenoid Pigments & Human Health Benefits; Health Benefits of Carotenoids for Human Skin; Nanoparticles of Chitin Nanofibril-Hyaluronan Block Polymer Entrapping Lutein as UVA Protective Compound; Bixin & Norbixin: Chemistry, Production & Health Benefits; Biology of Carotenoids & their Potential Cardiovascular Health Benefits; Effects of Carotenoids on Mammalian DNA Polymerase Inhibition & Anti-Inflammatory Activity; Dietary ß-Cryptoxanthin Stimulates Osteogenesis: Role in Prevention & Treatment of Osteoporosis; Index.